ALBERT JOHN M.

SUAN BSRT-4B

DIABETES MELLITUS

Diabetes mellitus - Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by

hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.
Risk factors:
 Weight
 Inactivity
 Family history
 Dietary factors

Signs and symptoms:

 Frequent urination
 Excessive thirst
 Unexplained weight loss
 Extreme hunger
 Sudden vision changes
 Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
 Feeling very tired much of the time
 Very dry skin
 Sores that are slow to heal

Types of diabetes mellitus:

 Type 1 diabetes mellitus
 Type 2 diabetes mellitus
 Gestational diabetes mellitus
Type 1 diabetes mellitus - is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. It is a chronic
illness characterized by the body’s inability to produce insulin due to the autoimmune
destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas. It used to be called juvenile-onset
diabetes, because it often begins in childhood.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus - the most common form of diabetes. It is used to be called
adult-onset diabetes, but with the epidemic of obese and overweight kids, more
teenagers are now developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes was also called non-
insulin-dependent diabetes. With the type 2 DM the pancreas usually produces some
insulin. But either the amount produced is not enough for the body's needs, or the
body's cells are resistant to it.
Gestational diabetes mellitus - Diabetes that's triggered by pregnancy. It is often
diagnosed in middle or late pregnancy. Because high blood sugar levels in a mother are
circulated through the placenta to the baby. Gestational diabetes mellitus results when
maternal insulin secretion cannot increase sufficiently to counteract the decrease in
insulin sensitivity.
Diagnostic test:

 Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This blood test indicates your average blood
sugar level for the past two to three months. It measures the percentage of blood
sugar attached to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. The
higher your blood sugar levels, the more hemoglobin you'll have with sugar
attached. An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate tests indicates
that you have diabetes. An A1C between 5.7 and 6.4 percent indicates
prediabetes. Below 5.7 is considered normal.
 Random blood sugar test. A blood sample will be taken at a random time.
Regardless of when you last ate, a random blood sugar level of 200 milligrams
per deciliter (mg/dL) — 11.1 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) — or higher suggests
diabetes.
 Fasting blood sugar test. A blood sample will be taken after an overnight fast.
A fasting blood sugar level less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) is normal. A fasting
blood sugar level from 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) is considered
prediabetes. If it's 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests, you
have diabetes.
 Oral glucose tolerance test. For this test, you fast overnight, and the fasting
blood sugar level is measured. Then you drink a sugary liquid, and blood sugar
levels are tested periodically for the next two hours. A blood sugar level less than
140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is normal. A reading of more than 200 mg/dL (11.1
mmol/L) after two hours indicates diabetes. A reading between 140 and 199
mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L) indicates prediabetes.

For Gestational diabetes:

 Initial glucose challenge test. You'll begin the glucose challenge test by
drinking a syrupy glucose solution. One hour later, you'll have a blood test to
measure your blood sugar level. A blood sugar level below 140 mg/dL (7.2 to 7.8
mmol/L) is usually considered normal on a glucose challenge test, although this
may vary at specific clinics or labs. If your blood sugar level is higher than
 normal, it only means you have a higher risk of gestational diabetes. Your doctor
will order a follow-up test to determine if you have gestational diabetes.
 Follow-up glucose tolerance testing. For the follow-up test, you'll be asked to
fast overnight and then have your fasting blood sugar level measured. Then you'll
drink another sweet solution — this one containing a higher concentration of
glucose — and your blood sugar level will be checked every hour for a period of
three hours. If at least two of the blood sugar readings are higher than the normal
values established for each of the three hours of the test, you'll be diagnosed
with gestational diabetes.

Treatment and Management:

 Medication(Metformin, Glipizide)
 Diet
 Daily exercise
 Moderate or eliminate consumption of alcohol
 Avoid smoking
 Monitor blood glucose level
 Insulin injections